Independent thought
If the authorities outlawed Christianity, closed down the churches and took away all the Bibles, would there be evidence in your daily life, the silent sermon, to convict you?
If the authorities demanded complete obedience to its worldview and paradigm, complete loyalty to its cultural icons and zero tolerance for independent thought, would there be evidence to convict you?
I think Tommy Dean Johnson of Yellville should consider himself under arrest for his insightful analysis of the Supreme Court's decision on Hobby Lobby.
JOHN ROACH
Yellville
What has happened?
As a child of the '50s and '60s, I am lost. I don't understand this country today and I have a few questions.
What happened to taking responsibility for your actions? What happened to marrying before you had children, and sacrificing your needs and wants to pay your own way?
What happened to honor and integrity? What happened to being ashamed of being on the dole and doing everything possible to avoid it, or trying to get out of the system as soon as possible?
These are just a few thoughts to ponder. There are many more out there.
DANA WALL
Quitman
Hate in clear display
In a recent letter, Jim Babka questions the hate between Shia and Sunni Muslims. Where does Mr. Babka hang his hat?
Is he not familiar with the loud voices of Christianity in the U.S.? It seems to me they display their hate in proposed legislation, in court rulings, and on TV talk shows. They oppose that supposed "Muslim" in the White House, women's rights to medical care, even Medicaid. They are both sides of the need for war--in the Mideast, with North Korea, even financial issues and taxes, and especially public education. If the minimum wage had been indexed, it would be double today's rate, not the meager proposals of today.
Now they talk of building more prisons instead of schools. They endorse the war on drugs which is the same failure as Prohibition, whereas taxed legal drugs would fill the coffers and provide necessary rehab and education.
So, Mr. Babka, consider this the reasoned reply that you requested.
VERLA SWEERE
Little Rock
Wild indignant swine
As the unofficial promoter of SWINE (Spectators Wildly Indignant Against Everything), I am proud to accept another organization to our fold--SPECTRA (Society for Pronunciation of Cantrell Road To Respect Arkansans).
There have been other organizations I will probably never hear from (LGBT, NORML, etc.), and some that younger people have never heard of (Mystic Knights of the Sea as well as the UEPBOM on Life of Riley).
Some day all these may see the light! One can only wonder.
DAVE STUFF
Little Rock
Personal preference
I agree completely with views of Kristy Batchelor of Stuttgart expressed in her recent letter about what I believe to be the blatant infringement of our constitutional rights that is seat-belt laws.
Seat belts may save some lives, but I believe they can also cost lives, as she stated. The phrase "seat belts save lives" is part of the propaganda blitz used to sell this, I believe, unconstitutional act. The facts used to support this come from statistical data that I believe is very suspect.
I have seen many news reports of fatalities in car wrecks stating that the victim was not wearing a seat belt, but never one stating that the victim was wearing one. I think this alone invalidates the data, but add the inference that a seat belt would have prevented the fatality, and the data is completely flawed. Mark Twain once said, "There are lies, damned lies and statistics."
I believe we need to repeal seat-belt laws now and/or the courts should strike them down. Wearing seat belts should be a personal preference.
VONDES BURNETT
Conway
Taken from the poor
There are those who speak of the great inequity of wealth in the United States and how the gap between the resources of the rich and the poor has grown ever wider over the past few decades.
These analysts view wealth as a zero-sum game with each dollar that the wealthy accumulate coming out of the pool of money that we all share. I think that it is just as possible that all Americans profit through the success of our prosperous citizens.
Regardless, there can be no doubt whatsoever that great wealth in the hands of a few has resulted in the total destruction of our much-heralded democracy.
Wealth elects our government, and once elected, wealth controls our government. Since the only nonviolent fixes to this calculated takeover by the wealthy are through the laws of our government, there can be no fix for what has become a nonrepresentative government for the vast majority of citizens.
While this takeover of our democracy has been taking place, the rest of us have been distracted by debates over the sex scandals of public officials, high-profile court cases, abortion rights, stem-cell research, same-sex marriage, euthanasia and other red herrings.
If we as the citizenry of this nation would just look up from our HDTVs long enough to trap a thought, I think we would know that the wealthy have stolen from us Abraham Lincoln's concept of a "government of the people, by the people, for the people."
RON THOMAS
St. Joe
Realities in Mideast
Professor Raouf Halaby's recent Perspective article on the tragedy of the Mideast was articulate and grammatical, as befits a professor of English, but somewhat too rich in invective.
It is understandable that he feels deep resentment over the sufferings of the Palestinian people, but he is apparently unable to see both sides of the problem and suggests no ideas for its solution. Gaza is not and has not for a long time been occupied. Given the abilities of its people, the support it gets from other Arab states and probably from Israel if it behaved like a good neighbor, Gaza could be a prosperous and productive state.
Firing rockets does little real damage, but gives Israel reason to hone their military strength. The Palestinians must come to face the realities of the situation. The Israelis have long since done so.
ARTHUR LUCK
Maumelle
They're right for job
Re the financial questions surrounding Arkansas Baptist College and the alleged $157,000 bounced check: I have an idea. How about the college partnering with the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville's former Advancement Division employees? They seemed to be experts at shifting money around, creating bogus accounts receivable, etc.
To head up this private-public partnership, a real visionary is needed. My choice is Lu Hardin. Come on people, let's get cracking!
SCOTT T. VAUGHN
North Little Rock
Editorial on 07/25/2014